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Solutions
The National Youth Rights Association realizes the current policy toward alcohol and youth isn't working and it isn't fair. It is time we as a nation implement a smarter alcohol policy; an alcohol policy based on education, toleration, and a message of responsible, moderate use.
The National Youth Rights Association urges an honest attempt be made to model American alcohol policy after Europe. Europeans learn how to drink moderately and responsibly. We must look to the long experience of Italians, Jews, Portuguese, Greeks, Spaniards and many other groups around the world. These groups typically consume alcohol on a regular daily basis but have very few drinking problems. There are three major keys to their success in avoiding alcohol abuse.
-First, in all such groups people learn from an early age how to drink in moderation. They do so from their parents and when they experiment, they do so in the safe protective environment of the family. These groups recognize that it is better to learn to drink in the parent's house than at some house party.
-Second, these groups do not view alcohol as a dangerous poison drug to be avoided nor as a magic potion that can solve life's problems. They view it as a neutral substance that can be good or bad, depending on how it is used.
-Third, these groups view abstaining from alcohol and drinking in moderation to be two equally acceptable choices. What is always unacceptable is the abuse of alcohol by anyone of any age at any time.
The National Youth Rights Association believes a lowered drinking age together with greater acceptance of moderate amounts of drinking for younger people will reduce the "forbidden fruit" phenomena. Rather than teach young people about the many uses and abuses of alcohol, current law and policy dictates that alcohol is an inherently evil substance and only total abstinence from alcohol can be preached. While abstinence from alcohol is a totally acceptable option it should never eliminate the need for honest, open discussion and education about drinking. Just like any activity in life, drinking responsibly is an activity that one must learn. Currently we deny this healthy process to millions of young Americans. Rather than a gradual introduction to drinking over the period of several years the current attitude towards youth drinking says that a person shouldn't have a drop of alcohol until their 21st birthday, and at that time it is perfectly fine to consume 21 shots of hard liquor. This is like preventig someone from learning to drive and then handing them the keys on their 16th birthday with instructions to "have fun". This policy is dangerous and unrealistic.
The National Youth Rights Association recognizes the need to combat misuse of alcohol, not just use of alcohol. Alcohol can and does cause many problems for many people who misuse it, and every effort must be made to fight the problems caused by misuse of alcohol. By focusing on simple use of alcohol as the problem, current alcohol policy causes more problems than it solves. Many parents across the country recognize the inevitability that their high school children, especially after prom or graduation, will attend parties where alcohol is served, potentially putting themselves and others into danger after the party. In response, parents host parties in their home where they provide alcohol for the prom party, but insist that no one leave the house till sober, and no one drive home. Rather than support such a sensible attempt to promote safe drinking, the Youth Prohibitionist movement attacks such safety conscious efforts as allowing underage people to drink. Currently parents hosting such safety minded parties can be arrested. With no safe, open, supervised place to drink, these parties will just go underground and become secret where they become far more dangerous. Fighting against simple use allows dangerous misuse to grow.
The National Youth Rights Association believes that unrealistically and dogmatically clinging to a strict no-use policy allows the tree of "forbidden fruit" to flourish. Alcohol is handled like anything else in life, if adults treat teens like children and demand they not drink a drop of alcohol without ever having an honest discussion on the subject the teens (or anyone in a similar situation) will seek to defy such instructions and become more likely to drink. There are many reasons why people of any age choose to consume alcohol, but the way in which people under 21 drink is a direct cause of the harsh Youth Prohibition they suffer under. Rather than drink a glass of wine with dinner, or have a beer while watching football, drinking has been given an illicit allure that makes drinking an event unto itself, prompting dangerous binge drinking parties. NYRA suggests a better way. We believe that society must learn to appreciate alcohol as a neutral substance. If adults stop demonizing youth drinking it will loose its allure. Lowering the drinking age will make drinking boring.
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